Famous Temples in India

Architecture

There are 2 well known temples around the convergence of the rivers - Vishweshwar and Rameshwar. Sri Kashi Vishweshwar Temple is situated in Sangam Mahuli and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Vishweshwar Temple was built in Hemadpanth style of architecture on the banks of River Krishna. The basic structure has been built in black stone and the columns are made in teakwood. The entire temple is surrounded by a stone wall. On left one could see a stone structure with a stairway going up the terrace. The terrace allowed me a panaromic view of river Krishna and the village ahead. The temple is newly painted in creamy white and is very well maintained. The sabhamandap is supported by carved teak pillars supporting teak ceiling. The exterior walls of the sabhamandap (assembly hall) are in stone with a slantying tiled roof perched overhead. A antarala (vestibule) perched on a high platform separates the sabhamandap from the gabhara (sanctum). The beautiful carvings on its stone platform, of the mythical half bird half animal Sharabha (said to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva) fighting a gigantic serpent like creature, another showing a sharabha lifting elephants in its bare paws, a hattishilpa, deities etc. Facing the masouleum are several samadhis.

The temple plan measures 50 feet in length and 20 feet in breadth and is built in basalt stone. The stone ceiling is supported by alternate round,octagonal and square columns of short length afixed on short walls resting on a raised plinth. The ceiling consists of a central dome with a bulbous ribbed head surrounded by relatively smaller spires and a meghdambari style aedicule covering the entrance. Just before the entrance is the Nandi mandapa with this exquisitely carved dome. All the domes have figurines of deities moulded in stucco over a basic brickwork. The temple walls (mandovara) are segmented horizontally and are vertically corrugated. The pillars of the temple are also layered as per the traditional temple designs. The temple pillars also have figures of yakshas carved on their top faces. The temple plan is divided into a sabhamandap, a antarala and the garbhagriha. The walls flanking the passageway to the garbhagriha have niches with idols of Lord Ganesha and Godess Parvati (in a shakti form) placed within. One also saw a huge stone ‘deepamala’ (lamp pillar) in the courtyard, besides minor temples dedicated to the Snake god (the snake being a part of Shaivite culture and is worn by Lord Shiva around his neck) and Lord Hanuman.

Rameshwar temple is situated opposite to Vishweshwar Temple on the other side of Krishna River at Kshetra Mahuli. This temple is also dedicated to Lord Shiva and is quite small compared to the Vishweshwar Temple. The temple has a nagara style shikhara built with bricks and lime. Here the main Shivlingam is beautiful and is surrounded by water. Visitors need to cross the bridge on Krishna River to reach the Rameshwar Temple. The sabhamandap houses the idols of Lord Ganesha and Parvati. There is a Nandi mandap with a very ornately decorated Nandi idol. There is also a tall stone deepasthambha in the complex.